Rotating Pipe Dispenser for Uniform Powder Distribution in Laser 3D Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser 3D printers face challenges due to the complexity and high cost of paddle wheels or wheels with dispensing chambers required for precise powdered material dispensing, which are necessary for proper and precise dispensing onto the lifting platform.
Innovation Solution
A laser 3D printer design featuring a dispensing and distribution unit with a rotating outer pipe and a distributor that uses a reciprocating motion and a vibrating lifting platform to ensure homogeneous and uniform dispensing of powdered material, reducing the need for high processing tolerances and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a paddle wheel or wheel with dispensing chamber is used for precise powdered material dispensing, then dispensing precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex dispensing chamber structure from the wheel and replaces it with a simple rotating distributor plate with openings. The material is fed to the center of the plate and distributed outward through the openings during rotation, eliminating the need for complex dispensing chambers while achieving uniform distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive, precision-machined dispensing chambers with a simple, low-cost distributor plate that can be easily manufactured. The plate uses basic geometric openings rather than complex mechanical structures, significantly reducing manufacturing cost and complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If a paddle wheel or wheel with dispensing chamber is used for precise powdered material dispensing, then dispensing precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex dispensing chamber structure from the wheel and replaces it with a simple rotating distributor plate with openings. The material is fed to the center of the plate and distributed outward through the openings during rotation, eliminating the need for complex dispensing chambers while achieving uniform distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive, precision-machined dispensing chambers with a simple, low-cost distributor plate that can be easily manufactured. The plate uses basic geometric openings rather than complex mechanical structures, significantly reducing manufacturing cost and complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If high processing tolerances are applied to the dispensing mechanism, then dispensing precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex dispensing chamber structure from the wheel and replaces it with a simple rotating distributor plate with openings. The material is fed to the center of the plate and distributed outward through the openings during rotation, eliminating the need for complex dispensing chambers while achieving uniform distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of material distribution from precise mechanical positioning (requiring high tolerances) to rotational motion with geometric openings. This parameter change allows for much looser tolerances while maintaining uniform distribution, as the rotation naturally spreads material evenly across the build platform.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables simple and cost-effective production of laser 3D printers with precise and uniform material distribution, improving the efficiency and reducing production costs by using a rotating outer pipe and a distributor with a reciprocating motion to align and distribute powdered material effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The platform is connected to a known vibrating device (not illustrated) designed to impart on the platform 12 itself vibrations according to a given law.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~7
AI summary
A laser 3D printer presents a tubular compartment (8); a lifting platform (12) engaged in a sliding manner in the tubular compartment (8); a dispenser (23) for feeding a given amount of powdered material (3) onto the lifting platform (12); a distributor (30) for distributing the powdered material (3) over the lifting platform (12); and a laser printing head (4) for sintering the powdered material (3) laid on the lifting platform (12); the dispenser (23) being defined by two pipes (24, 27), which are coaxial, are mobile with respect to one another about a rotation axis (25), and have respective openings (26, 29) configured for facing each other radially so as to define an outlet for the powdered material (3) from the dispenser (23) itself.